Why Florida Is the Best State to Launch a 1099 Security Guard Marketplace
Florida's contractor-friendly regulatory environment makes it one of the best states for gig-based security work.
The Problem With California's Approach
When California passed AB 5 in 2019, it made it significantly harder to treat workers as independent contractors, creating legal uncertainty for gig platforms.
Why Florida Is Different
Florida has no equivalent to California's AB 5. The state follows federal FLSA standards for worker classification, which are considerably more flexible.
For a marketplace like ShieldUp — where businesses post gigs with set rates and hours, guards choose which gigs to accept, and guards are not controlled in how they perform their work — the 1099 model is clean and well-supported under Florida law.
What Makes ShieldUp a True Marketplace
Businesses post the rate and hours. ShieldUp does not set compensation — clients post what they are willing to pay.
Guards choose which gigs to accept. No one at ShieldUp assigns guards to gigs.
Guards work for multiple clients. Guards are free to work for any client or platform simultaneously.
ShieldUp does not control how work is performed. Once a guard is confirmed, ShieldUp's role ends.
What This Means for Florida Guards
- See the posted rate upfront and choose gigs that work for you
- Control your schedule completely
- Work for multiple clients with no restrictions
What This Means for Florida Businesses
- Post gigs with your rate and hours — no negotiation needed
- No payroll complexity or agency markup
- Flexible commitments — post gigs as needed
Florida's 150,000 plus licensed security guards now have access to a better way to work.